Treating critical illness caused by the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus

The 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic has set the world spinning, unexpectedly producing significant morbidity and mortality in young, otherwise healthy patients.

As the virus spreads across the Northern Hemisphere, emergency physicians are confronted with the challenging task of caring for the many that become critically ill from this pathogen. With the exception of a few observational studies and case reports, there is little information to guide the emergency physician in resuscitating and delivering critical care to a rapidly deteriorating patient. Many moribund patients with 2009 H1N1 influenza A infection require non-conventional critical care therapies.

In this article, we describe the case of a critically ill patient with confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza A infection. After a brief review of the unique characteristics of this virus, we discuss the management of critically ill patients burdened by infection with 2009 H1N1 influenza A.